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It was another successful event this past weekend at Q Stix Billiards in Houston where 56 Open 9-Ball, 9 One Pocket, and 11 Open Ladies 9-Ball competitors battled it out for over 6k in cash which included $1,550 in added money. Players ranged from Nicaraguan three cushion champion Francisco Taylor, Texas State Champion David Gutierrez, and WPBA Touring Professional Megan Smith. Tour champion Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant, Doug “Waco” Young, James Davis “Jr.”, and Sylver Ochoa were also in attendance.

Saturday’s matches played down and brought back the final 12 Open players on Sunday. Final four winners’ side included Francisco Taylor, David Gutierrez, Sylver Ochoa and Megan Smith. The west side saw Ernesto Bayaua v. Brent Thomas and Young v. Bryant. While Bryant cleaned up out west, 5 in a row, Taylor clenched the hot seat over Ochoa 9-3. Gutierrez and Bryant made quick work of it and reached one another. Bryant escaped 7-6 for an all too familiar semi with Ochoa, but was put away 7-1. In the Taylor v. Ochoa final, the Nicaragua native came on strong and secured his first LSBT win, undefeated,

9-7.

In the One Pocket event it was Bryant over Ochoa for the cat bird’s seat and Gutierrez over Alonzo on the one loss side. Gutierrez then took down Ochoa for a shot at first, but fell to Bryant in the final 3-1.

The ladies’ side saw Megan Smith, Ming Ng, Kyu Yi, and others who competed for a chance at the $550 added, $1,080 total purse. The final two on the winners’ side pitted Smith and Yi, while Ng and Rose McCrory dueled on the west side final two. It was Yi over Smith 7-5 while Ng fell to McCrory 5-4. Smith persevered over McCrory 5-4 in the semis then defeated Yi both sets in the true double elimination format.

Congratulations to all of our winners and we extend many thanks to our sponsors; Poison Cues, Delta-13 Rack, Leagueshirts.com and James Barnett. Because of you, POOL PAYS in the great state of Texas. God Bless everyone, and God Bless Texas.

The Lone Star Billiards Tour held its first ever Men’s & Ladies 9-Ball Open at the corporately owned Slick Willie’s dairy ashford location in Houston, Texas. Manager Gaylan Spreen was a fantastic host with his 27 Brunswick Medalist tables recently recovered with 860 Simonis cloth, re-leveled, and ready to go! Everyone was treated to a smoke free environment, polished pool balls, and the friendliest wait staff in Houston.

This event drew 57 players who battled for over $5,000 in prize money. Tour favorites on the men’s side included Charlie Bryant, James Davis Jr., Sylver Ochoa, Andy Jethwa, David Parker, and Doug Young. All of these accomplished players made it to the final 12 on Sunday including Lake Charles’ own Derek Fontenot who defeated Danny Tam 9-5 to reach the winner’s side final four. Ochoa bested Jethwa 9-4, Bryant defeated Davis 9-3, and Parker served it up cold to Danny Tam 9-8. Fontenot and Bryant emerged as hot seat opponents but it was Bryant who found himself in all too familiar territory, once again.

Fontenot patiently waited for the west side to play out. After Parker and Ochoa took a hit on the winner’s side, they met up with Jethwa and Tam respectively. Parker bested Jethwa 7-3 and Ochoa slid by Tam 7-6. Again, it was Parker who advanced two more rounds after he ousted Ochoa, then Fontenot, who finished a respectable third. It was Parker v. Bryant in the final. Bryant commanded the set early on, while Parker struggled to gain ground. Parker wowed spectators with his dramatic shot making but it proved no match for Bryant. Many congratulations and a debt of gratitude goes out to David Parker (Houston, Tx.), Derek Fontenot (Lake Charles, La.), and Charlie Bryant(Santa Fe, Tx.) for their outstanding play, sportsmanship, and personal friendship.

Ricky Casper

On the ladies’ side, it was tour regular Ricky Casper who finished the event undefeated and captured her very first tour title. Belinda Lee put up a great fight, but lost to Casper 7-6 in the final match. Texas State Open Champion Kyu Yi finished third and also finished 13th-16th in the Men’s Open event, while tour rookie Kimmy Nguyen took home fourth. Well done ladies!

Belinda Lee

We want to thank our tour sponsors: Poison Cues, Delta-13 Rack, James Barnett, and Eugene Lee. Special thanks go out to Gaylan Spreen and the Slick Willie’s Corporation, who hosted a first rate event. Also, congratulations to Ernesto Bayaua who won the AX5 Poison Cue Raffle!